THERE were doubles for trainers Natalia Lupini and Dermot Weld, along with riders Robbie Colgan and Leigh Roche, at Dundalk’s opening meeting of the year and Lupini and Colgan teamed up to land the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Fillies Maiden with Powerful Lady (15/8).

The daughter of Hello Youmzain, owned by Gary Devlin and Paul Heatley, travelled powerfully and led over a furlong out to post a three and three-quarter length success over Beautiful Affair.

The trainer’s partner Craig Bryson said: “The last day she was staying on well over seven furlongs, so we thought we would take a chance and step her up to the mile.

“Robbie was saying afterwards that a mile and a quarter might not be any problem going forward. I think she is the sort of filly that wants a nice, level, even surface to bring out the best in her.”

Pillar to post

Lupini’s second winner was equally emphatic, as Cousin Shay (11/4 favourite) made all under Leigh Roche in the second split of the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap to slam Free Solo by three and a half lengths.

Owned by Damian Lavelle’s An Geall Is Fearr Teoranta, this was the winner’s fourth victory at Dundalk and the victorious trainer commented: “That was the plan, to jump out and try to keep it simple. He’s not short of pace and everything went smooth for him today. He looked pretty competitive off that mark on his homework, so we are happy with him.”

Colgan’s brace was completed by Storm Eric (12/1) in the first split of that one-mile handicap. The Estidkhaar gelding, bred, owned, trained and led up by Jamie Flynn, came from mid-division to lead at the furlong pole and accounted for Roderick by a length and a quarter.

It was a third win on the Polytrack for the six-year-old and Colgan said: “He has come down a bit in the weights into a different grade.

“He travelled around really well and picked up in the straight well. Jamie thought he was in right old form for tonight, so it is great when it works out. He knows him inside out and does all the work with him.”

DERMOT Weld certainly made his first flat runners of 2025 count - saddling a double through a pair of progressive-looking four-year-olds.

Brosna Town (2/1 favourite) wore down Eighty Eight close home to land the spoils in the opening apprentice handicap over a mile and a half.

The latter had a six-length advantage turning for home, but Jack Kearney got a good tune from Timothy Murphy’s 80-rated performer to grab the front-runner late on for a half-length success.

“It was lovely to train the first flat winner of 2025 in Ireland and to have a double on the card,” Weld told The Irish Field. “I think Brosna Town is maturing into a nice type. He won a maiden at Fairyhouse last season and ran well on his prior start at Dundalk. I thought he did it well over the mile and a half. Hopefully, he looks to be progressing.”

Long-time stable ally Leigh Roche completed a double of his own, when bringing up the Rosewell brace on the Lope De Vega filly Sacred Oath (8/1) in the extended-mile-and-a-quarter maiden.

Weld said: “Sacred Oath is a very well-bred filly, so it was important to get a winning bracket. I’m delighted for her owner-breeders, Ballylinch Stud.”

JACK Cleary quickly got off the mark for the new year aboard Sayifyouwill (5/2 favourite) in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap.

The nine-year-old, owned by Riverstown Stables Syndicate, Yorkavenue Syndicate and Shamrock Thoroughbreds, was notching the 11th win of her career and led a furlong out to beat stablemate Shoot To Kill by two and a half a lengths.

Trainer Stephen Thorne said: “She proved very difficult and tricky in the gates on a couple of occasions, but we have ironed a few things out with her.

“I’m delighted - myself, my assistant Stephen Mooney and his family are involved in her, along with Davy Carrick, a good friend of mine, who operates some pubs in New York.”

This was a race marred by a serious injury sustained close home by Ado McGuiness’ grand servant Current Option, a Group 3 winner and thrice successful in the Ahonoora Handicap at the Galway festival.

Movin on up

McGuinness had earlier saddled Movin And Groovin (5/2) in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Handicap and the Cotai Glory filly, owned by Amy and Olivia Marnane, made all and fended off market leader Tomarlo by half a length.

It was a seventh winner for Nicola Burns, who only took out her licence in October.

McGuinness said of the 50-rated performer: “Seven furlongs or a mile is really her trip. I was gambling going back to six, but I didn’t think it was a great race. She might come off it early, but she is tough and honest. Nicola is great value and got her rolling well.”

“Exciting horse”

Calm The Jets made a winning debut in the Group Deals Available At Dundalk Stadium Maiden. The Bated Breath colt, sent off at 50/1, led after a couple of furlongs and stretched away in the closing stages to beat Lady Plimsoll by two and three-quarter lengths.

Cormac Farrell, who trains the winner for Douglas Taylor, said: “He’s green, he hung and did everything wrong today, and he could just end up being a pretty smart horse.

“We’ll probably step him up in trip the next day. He has a lovely action and I think he’d like a bit of nice ground on turf. He is for sale, but we would want an awful lot of money for him, because he is a very, very exciting horse.”